ClueBy
TodayArchiveWord list

Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
YesNo
↻ New worksheet

Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: calf · rock · ball · band · row · tube · bore · board

  1. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  2. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  3. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  4. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  8. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  9. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  10. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  11. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  12. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  15. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  16. I'll be taking the ________________.
  17. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  20. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  21. The King held a masked ________________.
  22. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  23. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  24. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. tube — in a tire
  3. row — a quarrel
  4. board — a flat piece
  5. rock — a stone
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. tube — a container
  8. board — a committee
  9. ball — a round shape
  10. ball — a great time
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. calf — of the leg
  13. rock — music
  14. band — a music group
  15. row — to paddle
  16. tube — the underground
  17. bore — to tire
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. bore — gave birth
  20. band — a rubber band
  21. ball — a dance
  22. board — to get on
  23. band — a ring
  24. row — a line

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com